doublegunshop.com - home Forums Thread Like Summary - Ever pay to shoot doves?

Well....it's almost zero hour here and I don't have anyplace to go for the opener. I see online that several ranches east of me here are charging money for the privilege (~$100 per gun). If I was otherwise engaged I wouldn't much care but I'm at loose ends tomorrow. My other option is to go fishing or chase blue grouse but....Colorado has gotten so-darn full of new residents, all my old spots have largely been over-run. Nothing convenient anymore I fear. What should I expect if I pony up my money and go take my chances?

Up here in Illinois I still have a couple of places I could go. About the Best is a melon farm on the banks of the Mississippi, but I hardly get out hunting anymore.
I am retired, have the time, a Great wife who would never, never ever tell me "no". I have the guns, the ammunition, and my third Brittany - first pick of the litter from his father who was first pick of the litter of my first Brittany. Each of them very different from each other, but each was like the third bowl of porridge to me.
Prior to retiring, I purchased enough of the things I'd need to have a retirement full of fishing, shooting and dove and upland hunting. I planned.
What I didn't know is that most all of my shooting and/or hunting partners would develop bad backs, bad knees, move away, or pass away.
To go dove shooting these days for me, is to go alone. If I go up to South Dakota this year it will be just my dog & I and, well, I just might not go.
Not sour grapes - I have a head-full of fine, fond memories beginning with early mornings out with my Dad. But my legs aren't as strong; I'm not as sure of myself and,
I now realize how much of the enjoyment came from going out with a good buddy or two.
All you who are going out this season, punch a hold in the sky for me & tell that dove that was from me.

Mr. Rowley, I am sure that the message in your post above touched all of your friends here who are getting on in age. I'm only 73 but lots of my old hunting buddies have gone the way you described your own buddies. I don't know when the time comes to lay it down and start parceling out your sporting treasures. Not yet in my case, but I can see it over the next few hills.

Not wanting to quit is certainly a sign to me that neither of us is quite ready to do it. I don't want to hunt alone, but I'm lucky to have three sons in town who will put up with me, and more importantly come when I call if I fall and can't get up or on a better note to pull a deer out of the woods for me. I pulled enough of theirs to earn it.

I have also been blessed with some younger hunting friends to hunt with. I recommend that highly. Oddly enough many young guys think old guys know a lot more than we actually do. Try not to do anything to dispel that notion...Geo

Bob, I can understand why missing your friends has changed your outlook, and your drive to hunt. But, for me it is a bit different. Not better, or superior, but different. I love shooting doves so much that I have often, and will many times in the future (hopefully), shoot doves all by myself. I have spoken with others via these forums that do the same. It's different, but it's great in a different way. No one is in my way, there is no need not to shoot at a low bird. There is a challenge there, to decoy doves to one specific location in the middle of a huge field. It's more a game of wits than when there's other guys helping.

I wish you all the best in whatever your future is, but, I urge you to not give in to sentimentality, but to figure ways to enjoy the fields and streams with the less than 100% mobility you may have. I wish I could help in person, but possibly the only help I can give is to remind you of Churchill's commencement address when he said to the graduating class "Never give up. Never, never, never, never give up".

Best to you, Bob. First dove Saturday is for you.

Hunting/shooting Alone is one of life's Great Pleasures to me, and possibly others.....I am not a good participant in LARGE dove shoots.......Tomorrow morning will find me and young Nic (step son that blessedly came into my life) will try them on.....he will be putting his year old English Cocker gyp on her first live bird outing...... I am sending them to a field alone for multiple reasons, but mostly to let him make some memories of their own. I will let the Bird dogs out for their morning exercise, and then sneak out the oldest girl by herself and sit behind the barn and pass shoot some for her to mouth and half ass retrieve, a ritual she and I have shared for 13 openers..... realizing this is probably her last ( although she is remarkably good shape, and I feel she will make some appearances in the Quail fields later in the season) opener on Doves. I will try to match her standards and put a few down in spots that make for easy retrieves......
Best of Luck to all who are going out, and condolences to Mr. Hillis for having to wait until SATURDAY.......Politics in Georgia are Hell on you boys in so many ways.
As regards the OP here, I hope you can find a Dove Shooting opportunity that you feel is worth the cost..... give it a shot..... any chance to give them a try is worth the price$

I never paid to shoot doves and never will. If I am correct, wildlife is the property of the public and is not for sale. I've seen fields with food tents set up for those paying to shoot, but they are paying for the food, not the birds. Thin line of legality there, but it seems to be a way to circumvent the law. Stocked quail shooting preserves are OK by me, but not migratory birds.